Minority MPs on the Appointments Committee of the legislature, boycotted the vetting of Techiman South MP Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah on Friday, 11 June 2021.

Mr Mensah Korsah has been nominated by President Nana Akufo-Addo as the Deputy Minister of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development.

The main opposition National Democratic Congress does not recognise Mr Mensah Korsah as a legitimately-elected MP because of the violence that characterised the collation of results in his constituency during the 2020 polls.

The NDC is currently in court, challenging the declaration of Mr Mensah Korsah as the winner of that election.

The party is accusing the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of using violence to deny it the majority slot in parliament.

According to minority leader Haruna Idrissu, the government has not shown interest in the incident.

“We have a strong view that through the use and the misuse of the state security apparatus and the security agencies, he [Mr Adjei Mensah Korsah] procured the seat through violence”.

“With violence resulted in the loss of lives,” he said, adding: “There has been no investigation, there has been no visit by the Minister of Defence [and] Minister for the Interior, to commiserate, sympathise and console the family; not even a compensation of the family for those valuable lives that were lost”.

But, in response to a question when he appeared before the Appointments Committee, Mr Korsah said a four-bedroom house is being constructed for the family of one of the victims who died in the clashes.

“We have decided to provide some shelter for the family because it was their wish; so, a four-bedroom house will be put up for them”, he revealed.

He further noted that the remaining bereaved families are being engaged to satisfy their needs

The MP also said he took care of the hospital bills of those who were hospitalised.

“For those who got injured, some hospital bills are being paid to support them.”

He said measures are being put in place to secure justice for the victims as well.

“We have taken a number of steps to understand exactly what happened and seek justice for those who were affected so that it doesn’t repeat itself.”

He continued: “The event, as sad as it was, has brought us together. I, personally, as the father of the constituency, have taken some measures to support the family to cushion them.”

“One young man lost his life, the parents are sitting behind me in support of my vetting. That is the peace we want in Techiman South”, he said.

“What happened is one very unfortunate incidents that characterised our election in Techiman South. We had engaged in a campaign devoid of tension, acrimony, and there was so much unity among the parties. The election came to a close, and just at the very end, which was the declaration point, there were some misunderstanding, and a confrontation ensued between some of my constituents and the security agencies leading to this unfortunate”.